95->91 DOHC KA swap, wont start

[E Dogg]

I just put a 95 ka24de in place of my 91ka24de: I used the intake manifold from the 91, hooked up the harness form the 91 chassis, i have spark and fuel. The car however will not start, i did test compression when the engine was cold it ran about 110-125 on each cyl....Any Ideas?

[Structure240sx]

that compression is really low. did u switch over distributors? i guess so since u have spark. set the engine on TDC and set the rotor in the distributor to where the #1 spark plug wire is the slide it in carefully. the timing might be way off.

[E Dogg]

i have checked and rechecked the timing, im thinking the engine sat for a while and has low compression as a result...Is 110-120 to low for it to even try to start?

[Altiman94]

it should start with that low of compression, wait till your engine is warm then check it, and you will see the numbers rise greatly.

[E Dogg]

id be happy to start it if i could.Has anyone else out thater had to pop or pul start heir engine after along time sittig around? Mabye i should oil the cyls too they may be dry

PS thanks for the help guys

[Structure240sx]

turn it over by hand a couple times to make oil pressure. like said it should start. my engine would die sometimes after i blew it when cold with #3 being 60psi and #4 being 110psi the first two were fine.

[Asleep Altima]

by hand wont build oil pressure. he'll have to crank it with the starter for that. does it sound like its trying to start at all?

[:: orion ::]

I'd bet it's timing...

Have you hooked up a timing light while you try to crank it?

If not, do that...and I bet when the light flashes you don't even see a timing mark.

Move it one tooth to the left, and with the distibutor turned fully clickwise, try to start it. Then move it fully counter-clockwise and try again. Check with the timing gun - You'll be able to deduce when it's getting close...

And an engine CANNOT lose compression just by sitting around...unless we're talking about a 1953 checvy motor you just picked up from the junk yard. But not a couple-year-old KA...

And compression will suck when cold, especially if you haven't primed the oil...dry cylinders don't seal well.

Later - Brian

[Asleep Altima]

theres a trick you can do if you have an extra dis cap. you drill a 1/2 inch sight hole in the top of the cap to see where the rotor is pointing in real time. you can get your timing almost perfect this way.

[E Dogg]

No it dosent act like its tryin to start at all, not even one pop. I only have a Hotshot header on it now- it doesent need backpressure to start does it?

[Asleep Altima]

no it doesnt... are you absolutely sure that its firing off? it sure does sound like timing to me too... why dont you try my cap trick? if you need more info i can get you the link where msd does it as well.

[E Dogg]

Sounds good, ill be able to give it a try this weekend- ill have to find another cap as well. Myself and others have removed and checked the dist a number of times, unless the mark to line up on the s13 dist. dosent agree with the s14 motor....

[Asleep Altima]

regardless, tdc and the number one plug on the cap should line up... you should check that out...

[E Dogg]

I will

[Asleep Altima]

yup, i worked on chinooks, i actually have a "Hooker" tatt on my neck. (name for chinook mechanics in the army) you can run the car with the hole in the cap and actually use a timing light on it too. msd has a good write up on it, ill try and find it and post that link too.

[Asleep Altima]

here you go brotha, this is the best i can do while im at work. i believe i have the msd link on my computer at home.http://www.arengineering.com/e...1.htm

[E Dogg]

thanks a bunch guys- ill be doing this otnight or sat hopefully

[Asleep Altima]

heres the msd linkhttp://www.msdignition.com/pdf...g.pdf

[E Dogg]

it was the timing, after repeated attempts to use the timing marks, and the hole method. We moved the ger a few teeth and tired over and over till she cought... now i just need to fine tune it

[E Dogg]

We also had to use a trick my friend the "mad scientist" knew form his rotary engine work: used a truck to pull start the car, because it was reluctant to turn over even when timing was correct.

[Asleep Altima]

^^ haha, done that before... probably loads of fuel in the cylinder. the hole method works very well with a running engine for fine tuning.

[E Dogg]

i noticed the distributor i have has a little rubber cover over a hole near the #1 cyl. Also we put a lil oil in the cyl's to lube them up a bit since she hadnat ran in a while. I could tell it was spinning easier when i turned the key

[Asleep Altima]

that cover is covering the vent hole for the cap. its to prevent static discharge from building up.

[E Dogg]

oh, it is right by the #1 plug so i figured thats what its for, it can be used in that way

[midnightsliding]

hey glad to hear u got the timeing right, but WoooWoo, nice avatar thing,lol

[E Dogg]

haha, bub rubb has a dvd now!